Any valid permit issued pursuant to this act shall carry with it the right of successive renewal with respect to areas within the boundaries of the existing permit. The holders of the permit may apply for renewal and such renewal shall be issued, provided that on application for renewal the burden shall be on the opponents of renewal, subsequent to fulfillment of the public notice requirements of Sections 15 and 17 of this act unless it is established that and written findings by the Department are made declaring:

1. The terms and conditions of the existing permit are not being satisfactorily met;

2. The present surface coal mining and reclamation operation is not in compliance with the environmental protection standards of this act and the state program;

3. The renewal requested substantially jeopardizes the operator's continuing responsibility on existing permit areas;

4. The operator has not provided evidence that the performance bond in effect for said operation will continue in full force and effect for any renewal requested in such application as well as any additional bond the Department might require; or

5. Any additional revised or updated information required by the Department has not been provided. Prior to the approval of any renewal of permit the Department shall provide notice to the appropriate public authorities.

If an application for renewal of a valid permit includes a proposal to extend the mining operation beyond the boundaries authorized in the existing permit, the portion of the application for renewal of a valid permit which addresses any new land areas shall be subject to the full standards applicable to new applications under this act.

Any permit renewal shall be for a term not to exceed the period of the original permit established by this act. Application for permit renewal shall be made at least one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the expiration of the valid permit.

Laws 1979, c. 249, § 7, emerg. eff. June 1, 1979.